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2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: Safety, Style & Fun

If I was asked to describe the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport in three words, they would be safety, style and fun. I was given the opportunity to test drive this crossover SUV for an entire week. Before I get into my personal review, I'd like elaborate more on those three words.

Safety:
The Outlander Sport was awarded an IIHS "Top Safety Pick" for its performance in front, side, rollover, and rear impact collisions. On top of that, it comes standard with an amazing safety system comprised of seven airbags, including driver knee and side curtain airbags. The Active Stability Control feature (again, standard) uses sensors that constantly monitor the grip of the tires on the road. If the wheels slip at all, the anti-lock brake system intelligently applies the brake as needed, providing a great sense of control. Moms will be happy to hear that there is a latch system in place to ensure car seats are properly installed and secure. Equally reassuring are the child-safety rear door locks.

Style:
Do you prefer elegant, beautiful cars? Or are you more into playful and sporty ones? Well, the Outlander Sport flawlessly combines both looks! The interior is just as stylish. The dash is digital and in full-color, providing easily visual information such as temperature, fuel level, and much more. The steering wheel and shift knob are both wrapped in leather, and the door levers are a shiny chrome. Not only is the car obviously stylish, but a new driver will be surprised to find several "hidden", yet very functional, accessories. To name a few: there is a hidden pocket tissue holder in the center console, along with a USB port and electrical supply. You'll find a nifty pen and card holder in the glove box. The center console is moveable, allowing shorter folks to be able to enjoy the elbow rest.

Fun:
The Fuse Hands-Free Link System is a mobile command center, featuring Bluetooth technology and speech recognition. This system lets you to hook up your phone and MP3 players and allows you to control them virtually hands-free. Simply tap a button and say a voice command to make a phone call or play a specific song. The one-touch start/stop engine switch and fast-key entry eliminates the hassle of searching for keys and lets you quickly enter the car, perfect for those rainy days! The steering-wheel-mounted audio controls allow you to change the radio station and volume without taking your eyes of the road. Cruise control is also found on the steering wheel. The optional 40GB HDD Navigation System feature is a large 7" full-color LCD touchscreen that will prevent you from getting lost, providing vocal turn-by-turn directions and real-time traffic updates. The built-in music server allows you to store many hours of your favorite music.